Oppression and Intrigue, and the Ultimate Punishment - II

30/09/2012| IslamWeb

Meaning of the planning of Allah The Almighty 

As is common knowledge, the manner in which Allah The Almighty plans, fits His Majesty; it indicates the way in which He inflicts punishment on those who conspire evil against His allies and Messengers, which is countering their schemes with good plans. Therefore, while their plots are most vile, the planning of Allah The Almighty is the finest, because it constitutes justice and fair recompense. In addition, His manipulation of the disbelievers is a punishment for their deceitfulness of His messengers and allies. Verily, there is no plan or deception better than His.

Bearing in mind that the ill effects of conniving are suffered by the perpetrators, the same applies to the oppression they inflict, which is a sin that entails a swift recompense. It was said that anyone who draws the sword of injustice will be killed with it, for it afflicts its doer; therefore, one should avoid injustice.

‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with them, would say, "If it happened that a mountain repressed another mountain, Allah The Almighty would level the unfair one." The following quote is also attributed to him: "A king uttered a word of injustice while he was sitting on his throne. Allah The Almighty then transformed him into an unknown object, perhaps a fly or something else. Most importantly, he did not have any significance after that again."

Furthermore, ‘Abdullaah ibn Mu‘aawiyah Al-Haashimi relates, “When he was on his deathbed, ‘Abdul-Muttalib asked his ten sons to assemble and advised them as follows, ‘O sons, do not be unjust, for, I swear by Allah, [He] did not create anything more speedy in generating punishment than injustice. I have never witnessed people who continued [to live in peace] despite their transgression, except perhaps your relatives from Banu ‘Abd Shams.’”

Ibnul-Qayyim remarked, “How strange it is that the human self has the arrogance of Iblees, the envy of Qaabeel (Cain), the insolence of ‘Aad, the transgression of Thamood, the audacity of Nimrod, the discourtesy of Pharaoh, the tyranny of Qaaroon, the ugliness of Haamaan, the fancies of Bal’aam, the deception of the people of Sabbath, the rebellion of Al-Waleed and the ignorance of Abu Jahl! It is also characterized by some beastly characteristics, such as the keenness of the crow, the voracity of the dog, the vanity of the peacock, the vileness of the scarab, the ingratitude of the Dhabb (a kind of reptile), the grudge of the camel, the leaping of the cheetah, the hostility of the lion, the wrongdoing of the mouse, the maliciousness of the snake, the toying of the monkey, the persistent hoarding of the ant, the slyness of the fox, the lightness of the butterfly and the laziness of the hyena. However, despite all that, struggling against these bad traits, does, eventually, remove them."

Texts in the Quran vilify injustice, such as where Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {The cause is only against the ones who wrong the people and tyrannize upon the earth without right. Those will have a painful punishment.} [Quran 42:42] In general, injustice incorporates haughtiness, arrogance, oppression, corruption and committing sins. It is one of the five things that all divine faiths prohibit, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Say, "My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin, and injustice without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know."} [Quran 7:33]

That is why the promise of Allah The Almighty of His support, to all those that have been oppressed should suffice them, as He Says (what means): {That [is so]. And whoever responds [to injustice] with the equivalent of that with which he was harmed and then is tyrannized - Allah will surely aid him.} [Quran 22:60]

Moreover, the Prophet said: "No sin is worthier of its doer’s punishment being hastened by Allah in the worldly life, in addition to what is stored for him in the Hereafter, than injustice and severance of family relations." [Ahmad and Abu Daawood] A slightly different version reads: "No act of obedience to Allah necessitates a reward faster than upholding the ties of kinship; and nothing prompts punishment swifter than injustice, cutting off ties and the untruthful oath and empty promises.” [Al-Bayhaqi, Saheeh – Albaani]

The Prophet also said: "Allah revealed to me that you should be humble such that no one boasts over another or transgresses against another." [Muslim]

If we reflect on the history of nations, we will discover that there are lessons to be learned from the stories of the tyrants among them in the past and present. We will find that their final ends affirm the fact that the norms established by Allah The Almighty in the universe are in total conformity with what is stated in His Book.

For instance, Pharaoh persecuted others in the land without right, claimed Lordship and Divinity, and said, as cited in the verse (which means): {Does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me?} [Quran 43:51] He tried to apprehend Prophet Moosaa (Moses), may Allah exalt his mention, and those who believed in him among the Children of Israel. Along with his army, he pursued them out of cruelty and enmity. However, Allah The Almighty drowned him and caused water to surge over him as an appropriate punishment. Later, the Egyptians saw his rotten corpse after they had earlier worshipped him instead of Allah The Almighty, Who Said (what means): {So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign.} [Quran 10:91]

The Quran also relates the story of another tyrant, Qaaroon; Allah The Almighty Says that his people advised him, saying (what means): {And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters.} [Quran 28:76] But when he did not heed this, Allah The Almighty destroyed him, as He describes, Saying (what means): {And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home.} [Quran 28:81]

The tyranny that the preceding nations practiced against the Prophets and Messengers contains many admonitions and morals for all those who have intellect, for Allah The Almighty seized them with His might and power. The people of Nooh (Noah) and ‘Aad, and many other generations lived until they [disbelieved in them and] perished along with their deeds that were presented to Allah The Almighty, Who Says (what means): {And how many have We destroyed before them of generations? Do you perceive of them anyone or hear from them a sound?} [Quran 19:98]